(CNN) – President Barack Obama's sweeping health care law came under fresh assault from Republicans over cost and complexity with a Senate lawmaker saying comprehensive doesn't mean comprehendible.

Speaking the week after the Obama administration said it would delay a key provision of the law, U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi of Wyoming said on Saturday in the weekly GOP address that the Affordable Care Act was a "partisan experiment in government-run health care" that had failed.
Last week, the Treasury Department said it was delaying by one year the requirement that businesses with 50 or more employees provide workers with health insurance – a provision that had long been contested by Republicans, who said it would hurt jobs growth.

In the weekly address, Enzi predicted the delay would force more Americans to enroll in the health care exchanges created under Obamacare – thereby increasing costs to taxpayers.

"Where did he find this authority to pick and choose what parts of the law he'll put in place and when?" Enzi wondered. "Republicans and Democrats alike are asking how the administration can possibly justify this decision."

Part of the problem, Enzi argued, was Obamacare's length, which he said made it impossible for any single lawmaker or agency to fully to fully determine the effect of the law.

"After 20,000 pages and still adding new regulations, and over 150 new bureaucratic agencies, boards, and programs, they still haven't figured out what is in the law, or how to make the law work, which is why we need to permanently delay implementation of the law," he said.

Lawmakers in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives have voted numerous times to repeal all or part of Obamacare, though those efforts have stalled in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats.

In his address, Enzi decried Washington's penchant for passing enormous laws he said don't allow for thoughtful debate. While not specifically mentioning the current push for comprehensive immigration reform, the Wyoming Republican took aim at laws that seek to make sweeping changes.

"We also need to get away from trying to do everything comprehensively," Enzi said. "'Comprehensive' usually means incomprehensible. The larger a bill gets, the harder it is for people to understand and agree. This is especially true when we try to pass bills that no one can have read and we have to find out what's in them after we pass them."

soundoff(48 Responses)

Good- we must keep up the pressure, that is the only way to get rid of ObamaCare. We do not need for the Goverment to decide on peoples healthcare, leave that to the Doctors.

July 13, 2013 07:11 am at 7:11 am |

Scott Downer

"Theft by deception". This is what our healthcare system is doing. the Hospitals do operations that have no purpose at times keep you there to fill a space like a airport loading a plane only to meet there quarter. That nurse”s are under educated and bloody nose”s and broken toe nails fill our Hospitals beds and the greed gets payed by the healthiest of people . Self care awareness to Health care must be taught in Schools . We have to stop punishing good productive people for the ignorance of others ! The Money laundering of health care has no voice in equality to all of us ..Obama care separates us from our freedom and rights.

July 13, 2013 07:31 am at 7:31 am |

James Benton

It's funny how Republicans are so sure that Obamacare is destined to fail, but at the same time they're spending so much money and making such an effort to see that it does fail. If it's going to fail, then they should just let it fail.

On the other hand, if they're working to keep Obamacare from being successful, then it shows that the Republicans are worried that it won't fail.

July 13, 2013 07:43 am at 7:43 am |

quinLee

"We also need to get away from trying to do everything comprehensively," Enzi said.

Maybe the GOP should get away from doing nothing or just simply get out of the way. I dare them to provide an alternative–at least one that makes sense to us here on earth. Heck, I'd love to see the GOP pitch in instead of bichin. Maybe, possibly then some of the crap that's broken would actually get fixed.

July 13, 2013 08:14 am at 8:14 am |

dixie

How are people suppose to know about this and blindly trust this when our own government can' get it going? It is to big and confussing to impliment. We no longer trust these people to get things done the right way.

July 13, 2013 08:36 am at 8:36 am |

Ed1

They warned us that this bill stinks but nobody read the bill and now it's coming out it really does suck.

July 13, 2013 08:51 am at 8:51 am |

Data Driven

"Where did he find this authority to pick and choose what parts of the law he'll put in place and when?" Enzi wondered.

Boy, all you conservatives get your talking points from the same place, don't you? I've heard this phrase uttered by conservatives on this page about 10 times last week.

Does Rove tell you what to say? Just curious.

July 13, 2013 09:20 am at 9:20 am |

HenryMiller

Republicans really don't really need to keep up the assault on Obamacare—it's going to collapse of its own weight. That said, though, the faster it's killed off, the less damage it will do and the less will have to be cleaned up.

July 13, 2013 10:00 am at 10:00 am |

Tom

Hey, maybe the House can vote to repeal Obamacare. Have they ever tired that? It's hard to take Republicans seriously on this issue. When the Affordable Care Act was being debated in Congress, Republicans refused to negotiate. They insisted the legislation had to be scrapped and refused to discuss any ideas to improve it. If Republicans had made a good-faith attempt to shape this important legislation when is was being debated, they might have been able to make substantive changes before it became law. But nooooo. Republicans saw a defeat of the ACA as a golden opportunity to damage Obama's first term legislative agenda. Kill Obamacare and Obama would have been powerless for the balance of his first term. Republicans put politics before doing what was right for the country. They lost, now all they can do is whine.

July 13, 2013 10:07 am at 10:07 am |

Thomas

U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi , the Ted Cruz of Wyoming .

Affordable Heath Care , Education, Immigration

Three things the GOP doesn't think we need !

Louie Gohmert / Mike Enzi 2014 ?

July 13, 2013 10:08 am at 10:08 am |

Evergreen

My 33 year old nephew died last month from heart disease. He is survived by his wife, 11 year old son and 9 year old twin daughters. He could not afford healthcare. Dont let this happen to someone you love. Americans should not have to die because jobs no longer pay enough to cover healthcare.

July 13, 2013 10:17 am at 10:17 am |

Rick McDaniel

ObamaCare is an assault on the public.........it is a monstrous program, that is simply unworkable.

July 13, 2013 10:23 am at 10:23 am |

andres

The current healthcare law is a mess, and Obama well knows it. He has pushed back some of the most onerous provisions in the last week. Why? because he cares thats why. He cares deeply about the mid term elections. Those provisions are so onerous and will drive up health care so much that the next election would be a rout of the democratic party. So does he tell us to go back to the drawing board on this law? Nope he goes and DELAYS it for a year knowing full well that the US citizens are too stupid to see that it is nothing more than a stunt to ensure that democrats are reeelected.

July 13, 2013 10:43 am at 10:43 am |

Malory Archer

They do so because they're TERRIFIED that it's going to work and people are going to like it. Otherwise, why would they not let it happen and watch President Obama and the dems go down in flames as people realize it's as horrid as the rethugs say it is?

July 13, 2013 11:14 am at 11:14 am |

Gurgyl

.....leave that to doctors??? BS. They charge outrageous–do you pay?? Idiots. It is Law–just follow. Or go to China or India. You see the music there. Companies better pay for healthcare–if you can not afford BCBS–go to public-exchanges for cheap price.

July 13, 2013 11:18 am at 11:18 am |

Malory Archer

scott
Good- we must keep up the pressure, that is the only way to get rid of ObamaCare. We do not need for the Goverment to decide on peoples healthcare, leave that to the Doctors.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If only it were up to the doctors. Those "death panels" the frightwing screams about already exist. They're called insurance companies who deny lifesaving medical treatment for people who have paid premiums for years. Or they refuse to renew coverage when someone actually gets sick and needs to use what they've paid into for years.

July 13, 2013 11:18 am at 11:18 am |

They ought to change from the elephant to the hippo...

Where is your replacement proposal, Republicans? Oh THAT'S right... You DON'T have one. ObamaCare IS the Republican proposal! You just can't support it because it was actually passed by Democrats. (And perhaps was never meant to be a serious proposal in the first place...)

Is it flawed? Yep.. So FIX IT. If you have all the answers (like you pretend you do) what's stopping you from making it better?

July 13, 2013 11:32 am at 11:32 am |

co-man-senz

Sooooo the republicans want americans to believe a healthcare law CANT be implemented in a timely manner. Thefore america SHOULDNT? Did our grandfathers say the same thing during world war 2? Hell no!!! Learn about the details of D-day and you will see what americans are capable of! Its not logical to postulate somethinng so rediculous when the republicans have done everything they can think of to kill a bill that is already a LAW. If the timetable cannot be met then you adjust it. Some 50 million americans need healthcare and another 300 million would like to see their premiums go down. Republicans used to be strong with a backbone to boot. A formidable force. now they are weak az welps cowering in their dc offices waiting for the next do nothing payoff. They have been tricked and strong armed by corporate lobby to throw the fight. Weak.

July 13, 2013 12:14 pm at 12:14 pm |

PJ

"We do not need the government to decide on peoples healthcare................"
.............
Tell it to the Tea Party/Republicans who are deciding every day which children, women, elderly and all others
should get healthcare. You scream about your "rights" , yet you defend all of thosewho are
taking away your rights every day. Voting rights for one. Funny how they make no sacrifices for themselve or their families.
They just draw their big paychecks, and let the rest of us pay for their precious healthcare.
You either care about all of the people, or just some of the people.

July 13, 2013 12:17 pm at 12:17 pm |

dixie

If this mess can't be fixed then scrap it. There has been three years to get things done and no one has done anything! I don't care which party tries they hit a wall. Try breaking this mess down one part at a time to see what is able to be saved and what isn't. It should not matter which "party" you're in show the people that you can work and play well with others. REALLY TIRED OF HEARING FROM CHILDREN INSTEAD OF EDUCATED ADULTS THAT WERE ELECTED TO DO A JOB!!!

July 13, 2013 12:29 pm at 12:29 pm |

Doug in NYC

@ Scott "We do not need for the Goverment to decide on peoples healthcare, leave that to the Doctors."

How do you explain the forced invasive ultrasounds being passed by republican state legislators being forced on women? Or are you implying that only Republicans can force unnecessary medical procedures on people? Sure doesn't sound like republicans want to leave it up to the DRs.

July 13, 2013 12:47 pm at 12:47 pm |

quinLee

Rick McDaniel
ObamaCare is an assault on the public.........it is a monstrous program, that is simply unworkable. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You don't know assault if you haven't had to go to the an Emergency Department lately. Had to take my wife in to the ED at a hospital, where BTW I work and pay a chunk of money for healthcare coverage. We sat for hours waiting to be seen while uninsured kids and sick people that let simple treatable conditions fester into now more serious and expensive events were seen ahead of us. No only did I have to pay part of their bill but I had to wait behind them in line. No that's an assault and an insult. Stop being stupid.

Fortunately $7 billion that could have been used to properly implement ObamaCare was pledged to Africa.
Wonder how much he is going to pledge the people at Martha's Vineyard as the Obama family continues its vacation tour.

July 13, 2013 01:11 pm at 1:11 pm |

rs

And what does the GOP have planned to put in place of the ACA? Nothing. Like taking Food Stamps from the poor (as they did this week with the Farm Bill- while ensuring corporate farmers still get their subsidies), or their upcoming attempt to privatize Medicare, these so-called "pro-life" "christians" seemingly can't wait to demonstrate their hatred for classes and groups of Americans they don't like.
These are deeply sick and disturbed individuals.
The GOP- the party you apparently vote for if you want to insure no problems (immigration, gun control, education, jobs, the economy, health care, etc...) will never get fixed.

July 13, 2013 01:26 pm at 1:26 pm |

Anthony

HenryMiller, Obamacare is not going to collapse of its own weight. Obamacare is a government requirement that people buy PRIVATE health insurance or face a fine from the government. If you can't afford health insurance, you get a subsidy to buy insurance instead (meaning that you don't pay a fine). Obamacare does not guarantee or give insurance to anyone. You still need to buy insurance from private companies, whether you pay a fine to the government or get a subsidy.